The Chicago Bears went into Week 3 with a quiet but notable plan: keep a close eye on left tackle Braxton Jones and consider giving Theo Benedet some snaps in relief. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears’ coaching staff had concerns about Jones’ stamina and late-game performance, with offensive line coach Dan Roushar confirming the thought process on Thursday.
In the end, the plan never materialized. Jones played well, and right tackle Darnell Wright’s elbow injury forced Benedet to step in at right tackle.
“It happened to be what it was,” Jones said postgame. “I was feeling pretty good for most of the game.” His words reflect both resilience and the looming reality that he’s on the hot seat.
Bears Nearly Benched Braxton Jones Against the Cowboys
The Bears‘ hesitancy to fully trust Jones this early in the season stems from what they’ve seen in his first two games. Roushar admitted that Jones’ performance has dipped noticeably.
“Early it was functional and done well enough that we can have success,” he said. “I thought at the end of both games, there was a diminish in his play. It’s something we’re thinking about and trying to keep him as fresh as we can to play like he starts the game and finish that way.”
In the first two games of the season, Jones was responsible for 77.8% of the pressures allowed by the Bears‘ offensive line, with 13 pressures and two sacks allowed.
Jones’ struggles appear to be tied back to his season-ending ankle injury last season, which required surgery. Roushar emphasized that he’s putting in the work and competing hard, but admitted the staff must carefully monitor him going forward.
“The guy is battling his a** off. He’s trying. Fundamentally, he’s gotten in bad spots, and that’s when the breakdowns happen as the game goes on. …He [Jones] would probably tell you that fatigue has set in as it goes on. That’s mental and physical. We have to monitor that and pay attention to that, and he and I have talked about it.”
Braxton started the game strong, looking more athletic in his ability to re-leverage than he has since early 2023. He still wore down late in game, but gamescript helped cover those blemishes.
Implications for the Bears’ Offensive Line
The offensive line remains one of the Bears‘ biggest variables in 2025. Protecting Caleb Williams is a non-negotiable, and instability at left tackle is the last thing Chicago needs right now.
Jones has shown flashes of being a reliable protector, especially in the game against the Dallas Cowboys, but the regression as games wear on is concerning.
The encouraging sign for Chicago is that Jones finished the game playing all 57 snaps with zero pressures allowed, sacks, and penalties. If he continues to show progress in conditioning and technique, he may silence talk of being benched and re-establish himself as a key part of the Bears‘ offensive line.
For now, Jones has bought himself more time. But the coaching staff’s watchful eye makes it clear that every snap he plays is being graded with added scrutiny.
Bears Make Feelings Clear on ‘Almost’ Benching Braxton Jones